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W E D N E S D A Y
A stint with the Waterboys during their celebrated Irish-roots phase catapulted County Clare accordionist Sharon Shannon into the international spotlight. A bevy of Irish rock and folk stars guested on her self-titled solo debut, and on her second release, Out the Gap, Shannon explored even more exciting fusions with reggae producer Denis Bovell. In live settings, Shannon generally appears with a small band that includes a fiddler, guitarist, and bassist; the format allows for dazzling improvisation and great interplay. What’s more, Shannon and company often include their own uniquely Irish renditions of tunes from Finnish, Cajun, and French-Canadian sources. At 8 p.m. at the Birchmere, 3901 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $15. (703) 549-5919. (Ken Roseman)